Description

The famous Indianapolis 500 Mile race, held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Memorial Day weekend, is one of the most famous automobile racing events in North America. The event is simulated here using 3D polygon graphics to recreate the 33 cars in the race. Players are able to choose their car and customize it with a variety of options. Modifications include wing down-force, tire pressures, wheel stagger (making the right-side wheels larger, to compensate for the banked corners) and turbo output (which provides boost, but stresses the engine and uses more fuel).

After qualifying (by performing during four laps and taking the average) players can race over 10, 30, 60 or the full 200 laps. Lower modes remove car damage and the 'full-course yellow' system, the absence of these can make for repeat carnage including traffic collisions and huge pile-ups.

Forums

Trivia

Milk

One of the traditions of the Indy 500 race, incorporated into the game, sees the winner swigging a triumphant bottle of milk in Victory Lane. In 1993 Emerson Fitipaldi (who also won the 1989 race the game is based around) infamously consumed orange juice instead - not for dietary or ethical reasons, but to promote his ownership of several orange groves in Brazi. He was ridiculed and booed for this. particularly at the next IndyCar race at the Milwaukee Mile in the prime dairy-producing state of Wisconsin. remains the only driver since 1955 not to celebrate with milk.

Simulation

Many consider this the first auto racing simulation based on realistic driving behaviour, but REVS (1986), developed by Geoff Crammond, already introduced this in a game.

Awards

ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)

February 1991 (issue #41) - Included in the list Greatest Games of all Time, section Racing Games (editorial staff choice)

Amiga Power

May 1991 (Issue #00) - #9 in the "All Time Top 100 Amiga Games"

Computer Gaming World

November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #122 in the “150 Best Games of All Time” list